Not sure where this should go so I put it here!

Is there a reliable and not too expensive B&W printer ideal for printing black text on the market?

Most inexpensive printers are, I think, Inkjets. I have one. But the manufacture of these things must assume everyone wants to print glossy colour photos. They are over-complicated and need expensive colour ink which I don’t use. Even if I want to print only black, if I run out of colour, I’ve had it!

Its annoying how we can’t make technology cheap and simple; it has to be complex and simple - not a good combination! Anyway, as I writer, all I need is to get my pages printed quickly in B&W with no fuss and without running out of ink every three days!

I don't mind changing to laser if that is best for my B&W printing needs.

I wonder what type of printers those on this site use. Can anyone recommend a good reliable not too expensive one?

B&W laser printers aren't expensive - around the price and size of a not-the-cheapest inkjet - and they're infinitely cheaper to run, much faster at printing, more reliable, and produce much better quality work. (And it's comparatively nice, basic technology: I can usually get another few hundred pages out of it by taking the old cartridge out, shaking it, and putting it back.) For some reason my cartridges are usually cheapest on Amazon.

Mine is an HP Laserjet 1015, which is about 3 years old. I wouldn't be without it for anything.

Emma

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Meant to say, the cartridges are expensive when you need one - mine are around around £60 - but it's probably done three or four drafts of a novel at 400 pages apiece, plus any amount of stories, admin, stuff off the internet, plus the children's coursework...

Thaks Emma.

I'll be searching the internet for a B&W laser ASAP!

I use a B&W Samsung laser which cost about £100 four years ago. The cartridges seem, initially, to be expensive but they're guaranteed to do a minimum of five reams, and the print quality is a professional standard. I'm on my third cartridge replacement and there’s no indication yet that this one is running out. I have no idea how many pages I've printed – but it’s a lot! Like Emma, I wouldn’t be without it now.

Dee

One or other of the computer mags usually seems to be doing a group test, which is quite a good way of getting a quick run-down of costs and sizes and so on.

Emma

I've got a Samsung laser printer too. Cheap as chips. Doesn't sing, dance or make the tea, just prints out good quality text at a good speed - certainly faster than any ink jet (about 2-3 seconds per page). Cost about £90. Cartridges are £56-£60 and are good for about 3000 pages. There's a toner save button on this one too, which is good because it lights up green when you press it.

Colin M

Yes, I have mine set for toner saving to be default, and only print out at full blast when I'm doing it for someone else.

Emma

That's the great thing about having my own set of printers and a photocopier at work. Still trying to work out how I'd pass my subs through the mail room though. Guess I can't complain too much with unlimited free printing and paper!

Having said that I could probably hand deliver most of my subs and save myself a fortune when I finally get round to it.

Geoff

The thing I miss most about not working in an office is the photocopier, and even now most things are email, just occasionally a fax - when you need a true copy of an actual document.

BTW, Geoff, I've just seen the descendant of my printer, called I think an HP LaserJet 1017 or 1018, in John Lewis, for £80.

Emma

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Sorry, I meant BTW Michael, obviously!

The costs are such a pain in the arse. The printers are getting cheaper and cheaper but the same can't be said for cartridges.

We've just got a brand new colour laser printer HP something doodah and it costs £800 a time to refill! £800!!! Still it does a pretty decent job of my holiday snaps

I've also just got my new mobile projector which doubles as the most amazing home cinema experience. The picture has to seen to be beleived! Still they get you there too a new lamp will set you back £250.

Honestly, sometimes I think that all the free technology is one of the only reasons I'm still there!

Geoff

I now have my new (HP Laserjet 1020) printer. I opened the box at 3.50pm and before 5pm I'd printed off 270 pages of my manuscript! It is fast and simple and don't know how I did without one for so long. It cost £99.

Good, aren't they?

Good news, Michael... Glad you're enjoying it.

Emma

Yummy!